Special Sunday in Rome

Tutti in piazza!

Well, that was a shout that I used to hear in the 1970s, and it was political. It means literally "Everybody in the plaza," but this should be translated roughly, "Everyone get out into the streets!" This shout always had a political edge to it. It was a call to the young people to protest.

Today everybody got out into the plaza - St Peter's Square - to protest the treatment against the pope by the folks at the Sapienza. The piazza was full; via della Conciliazione was full… it was amazing to see! People came from all parts of Italy, north and south. Mayors hired buses to bring citizens; university students from all over were there in solidarity.

I was of half a mind to go down to Piazza S. Pietro to participate, and the weather itself was more than encouraging. The sun rose while we were at Sunday Mass, welcomed by a clear blue sky. There was news that there were buses from every part of the republic, and I could just imagine how crowded the metro would be, seeing that every Sunday there are thousands who already pack public transit to get to the Angelus of the pope in Piazza S. Pietro. So I listened to the morning broadcasts of Vatican Radio, and then at noon joined about 20 other Salesians to watch the television broadcast on RAI.

Pope Benedict gave a wonderful discourse for the Christian Unity Octave, and did not mention the University or the protests at all in his prepared statement. He noted that the Christian Unity Octave started a year ago, at the initiative of Fr Paul Watson, who founded a community in the Franciscan spirit for the Unity of the Church in England. These are the friars and sisters of the Atonement, who have a wonderful history. "The evangelizing mission of the Church," the pope said, "passes along the path of ecumenism, the path of unity of faith, of gospel witness and authentic brotherhood and sisterhood."

Then he led the Angelus prayer in Latin. The television cameras, however, kept panning the crowd. I remember the first Easter of John Paul II there were crowds all the way to the Tiber: today it seemed to me to be more people. Many young people from the Sapienza, and from all manner of schools and universities, all with banners and flags.

And so, after the prayer, the pope then spoke to the young people of the hot topic of the invitation and the protest and of his decision not to go to the Sapienza. He spoke, he said, as a "professor emeritus", urging the young to seek always the truth and to do all to protect the liberty of conscience of every person. His tone was conversational, but the words were profound. Very moving.

There is a text of his words posted on the Vatican website, but I realize that Benedict XVI actually spoke the words after the Angelus more spontaneously, and not everything is recorded… For instance, he said that he had dedicated time after Christmas to write his address to the unviersity, and he had done so with enthusiasm. This does not show up in the text printed on the Vatican website. Still, it gives you an idea of what was said.

Later in the afternoon there was a special mass at the Gesù that some of our students attended. This was to celebrate the election of the new Jesuit general: Adolfo Nicolas. He is a Spaniard who studied at the Gregoriana and who has been a missionary in Japan. He was elected yesterday at the General Congregation of the Jesuits, and is 71 years old. He is a European who brings an Asian perspective.

A number of our Japanese Salesians have had him as their spiritual director. Among these is our UPS student Naoki Tsujihe, who has frequented my courses this term in Salesian spirituality. Naoki attended the thanksgiving mass of Fr "Nico", as they call him in Japan. I am told that he works very closely with the Salesians in Japan to publish books aimed at the education of young people. Many of the young in Japan call him "Jinkaku-sha", which means "Man of Character". This shows very high regard in Japan.

Isn't that nice news!